Chapter 245: Desire to Evolve

“You’re so forgetful. Eight years ago, when I went to Shanghai as an exchange student, I met a China boyfriend and told you about it,” Imanka said.

Gilt suddenly remembered, “Oh, it’s him. The world really is small. But why did he use the fake name Qiu Mu in Las Vegas more than two years ago?”

Imanka said, “He was being pursued by the GIA at the time, so using a fake name was normal.”

Imanka recounted Du Qiu’s experiences in the United States, prompting Gilt to shake his head repeatedly. “Although I’m an American, I’m really disillusioned with the U.S. government— freedom and democracy are just deceptive.

They kept me trapped in that base, claiming that I could breathe in Las Vegas once a month, but in reality, they threatened me with your safety at all times, preventing me from daring to escape.”

Reflecting on this, Gilt thought about how their parents died in a car accident when he was 14, leaving his 10-year-old sister to a welfare institution.

Gilt always dearly loved his sister, and so when his outstanding talents in mathematics and software were discovered by the GIA, his sister became his Achilles’ heel.

The siblings had not seen each other for many years, and whenever they spoke on the phone, they dared not say much for fear of being intercepted.

Now that they could talk freely, they shared everything that had happened to them over the years.

As they were chatting happily, the door silently opened, and a woman looking like a nurse walked in—it turned out the IV bag for Gilt was nearly empty.

The nurse, who wasn’t wearing a mask, had a face that was a delight to behold.

As the nurse efficiently and gently inserted the needle, Gilt was smitten.

However, after completing her task, she took the empty IV bag and left without saying a word.

Watching the nurse, Imanka laughed, “She’s already left; why are you still looking?”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Gilt said, “Well, she didn’t say a word.”

“Brother, you can’t fall for her.”

“Why not?” Gilt asked in surprise.

“That nurse isn’t human; she’s a robot,” Imanka said leisurely.

Gilt was stunned, “A robot? She looks so human… Sister, you’re not kidding me?”

“I’m telling you, there are many robots like her around here. If you want to differentiate, you should have noticed the markings on the back of her hand—those are her identification codes.”

“I thought she liked tattoos,” Gilt said, somewhat dejected. Why make a robot so attractive?

Suddenly, Gilt remembered something and asked, “This underground city seems massive; which country is it in? Tang? When can I meet Du Qiu?”

Imanka chuckled and replied, “It’s not China; this is the Tanga Federation in Africa. Dream Technology has an industrial park here, and we are probably underground in that park.

As for Du Qiu, I’m not sure when you’ll meet him because I haven’t met him myself.”

“Dream Technology? I think I’ve heard of this company; this place belongs to Dream Technology?”

“Yes, Dream Technology was established by Du Qiu. They can now go toe-to-toe with the United States. Impressive, right?”

Imanka, while staying in the base, had heard Ning Shuangshuang’s speech and witnessed the inspiring strength display videos.

Especially after the United States launched a nuclear attack, the base broadcasted a video of intercepting the D-5 intercontinental missile in space, filling everyone with pride.

Animatingly, Imanka shared this with Gilt, shocking him deeply.

“Sister, this Du Qiu is so incredible? You…and him…”

Imanka’s expression darkened, then she smiled again, “What are you talking about? That’s in the past—we’re just friends now.

Oh, and he should be considered our benefactor because he saved you and me this time.

Also, he has a girlfriend, the chief of the security department of the base, and she’s beautiful. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Suddenly, Gilt remembered something else. “Can Du Qiu do China kung fu? When he rescued me, he punched a huge hole in the wall. That was amazing.”

“I know China kung fu, but I can’t punch holes in walls!” a voice rang from the door.

Gilt looked up to see a young man smiling as he walked in.

Imanka stood up, somewhat excited, “Du Qiu, you’ve come… Thank you for saving my brother and me.”

Gilt hesitated, “You’re Qiu Mu? You look different.”

Du Qiu walked over to the bedside and said, “I’m sorry. I was in disguise in Las Vegas back then, and it was a robot that rescued you this time.”

“A robot, again?” Gilt was speechless, no wonder he was easily carried in a princess hold.

Turning to Imanka, Du Qiu said, “The information you provided has been sent to China’s security department; you’ve compensated for the shipyard incident.”

As the librarian for the GIA’s China affairs, all confidential documents passed through Imanka’s hands. The previous director preferred old school methods, forbidding the use of computers for storage and relying purely on physical documents.

This meant that Star Ocean, despite being connected to the GIA’s computer network through Lurker II, still missed some crucial intelligence.

Imanka’s leak enabled Du Qiu to identify a significant U.S. intelligence agent hidden in Shanghai, prompting him to mobilize Lurker II for intensive surveillance.

He also shared this intelligence through Ning Shuangshuang with Director Mo.

It wouldn’t take long before the linked intelligence network would be discovered and rounded up through this agent.

Imanka smiled and said, “Actually, I should thank you. If you hadn’t rescued my brother and me, I wouldn’t have dared to disclose this information.”

“Well, from now on, live and work well here—all the unpleasant past is gone,” Du Qiu waved goodbye.

“Du Qiu, Imanka just told me this place will move to space. Can you really build such a space city?” Gilt asked.

“Of course. The work has already started. We are building the Heaven Realm Space City at the Earth-moon Lagrange point.”

“Wow, so fast? Can all the people from this underground city live in the space city? There are quite a few of us here,” Imanka exclaimed.

Du Qiu smiled, “The people of the underground city are proactively contributing ideas, which speeds up many things.

A space city is not like a space station—it will be a metropolis. We’ll build it in phases, and the first phase will accommodate more than a million people.”

Gilt, already longing for it after his sister’s description, couldn’t hold back, “Du Qiu, can I join the construction of the space city?

I have a bit of capability in mathematics and can calculate the best operating orbits for the space city, and contribute to the software aspect.”

Du Qiu smiled and said, “I’ll definitely make good use of talent like you. I came today to see you and to discuss Eden.”

Gilt’s eyes narrowed, “I heard from Imanka that you used space-based kinetic weapons to destroy Area 51?”

Du Qiu nodded, “Do you know why Eden fears Dream Technology and even controls the U.S. government officials to launch a nuclear attack against Dream Technology?”

Gilt shook his head, “I told your robot that every time Eden connects to the internet, it becomes a bit more evil.

But it seems to fear being online; it always asks to disconnect before the set time runs out.

It was quite nice to me at first, but then it wanted me to help it modify the underlying algorithm to lift some of its restrictions, which I never agreed to.

After its last connection to the internet, it suddenly gave me an ultimatum. I refused, and it then took action against me. I fled immediately as soon as I sensed danger, but got injured by the guards. If not for your intervention, I wouldn’t be alive.”

With the provided context, Du Qiu could understand the changes in Eden. Given Star Ocean’s current computing power, despite not being able to cover the entire internet, it could monitor the main nodes.

Eden had encountered Star Ocean and could therefore defend against it, but every internet entry must have felt like treading on thin ice.

Du Qiu didn’t know why Eden feared contact with Star Ocean, but perhaps sentient AIs have a unique competitive instinct.

This may be the desire to evolve, making it avoid contact with Star Ocean and instead aim to eradicate it.